the officer had shouted to
the king, and when Osra saw her brother returning from among the trees
alone and with his sword, she still supposed that her lover must die;
and she turned and flung her arms round his neck, and clung to him for
a moment, kissing him. Then she faced the king, with a smile on her
face and the little dagger in her hand. But the king came up, wearing
a scornful smile, and he asked her:

"What is the dagger for, my wilful sister?"

"For me, if you kill him," said she.

"You would kill yourself, then, if I killed him?"

"I would not live a moment after he was dead."

"Faith, it is wonderful!" said the king with a shrug. "Then plainly,
if you cannot live without him, you must live with him. He is to be
your husband, not mine. Therefore, take him, if you will."

When Osra heard this, which indeed for joy and wonder she could hardly
believe, she dropped her knife, and, running forward, fell on her
knees before her brother, and, catching his hand, she covered it with
kisses, and her tears mingled with her kisses. But the king let her go
on, and stood over her, laughing and looking at the student. Presently
the student began to laugh also, and he had just advanced a step
towards King Rudolf, when Count Sergius of Antheim, the Grand Duke's
ambassador, came out from among the trees, riding hotly and with
great zeal after the noted robber. But no sooner did the count see the
student than he stopped his horse, leaped down with a cry of wonder,
and, running up to the student, bowed very low and kissed his hand.
So that when Osra looked round from her kissing of her brother's hand,
she beheld the Grand Duke's ambassador kissing the hand of her lover.
She sprang to her feet in wonder.

"Who are you?" she cried to the student, running in between him and
the ambassador.

"Your lover and servant," said he.

"And besides?" she said.

"Why, in a month, your husband," laughed the king, taking her lover by
the hand.

He clasped the king's hand, but turned at once to her, and said
humbly:

"Alas, I have no cottage!"

"Who are you?" she whispered to him.

"The man for whom you were ready to die, my princess. Is it not
enough?"

"Yes, it is enough," said she; and she did not repeat her question.
But the king, with a short laugh, turned on his heel, and took Count
Sergius by the arm and walked off with him; and presently they met the
officer and learned fully how the Grand Duke had come to Strelsau,